Perhaps our Vancouver’s chief cycle path, Mayor Gregor Robertson, has an impending major pre-election announcement to make in light of the news that the bike-share plan is going ahead in 2015. Could it be that he has finally uncovered a major, multi-million dollar sponsor for this oft-delayed sinkhole of a project?

Highly doubtful. Apparently not satisfied with council’s past financial fiascos from meddling in the private sector, Robertson is perhaps on the verge of committing more public moneys for a project that’s destined to take us all for a ruinous ride into financial oblivion.

Has the $ 400-million loss to taxpayers due to council’s involvement with the Olympic Village been forgotten?

Council seems poised to initiate this $20-million doomed program. It’s time for all of us to contact the”tunnel vision” crowd at city hall and advise them that this is one ride we don’t want to be on and then back it up in November’s election.

Paul Davey, Vancouver

Idling traffic isn’t green

No wonder TomTom reports that Vancouver has Canada’s worst traffic congestion. City officials seem to take great delight in ensuring that traffic lights are not synchronized.

So it is, go two blocks, stop and wait; go two more blocks, stop and wait. This happens all over the city. All this stopping and waiting means increased pollution.

It’s not green and all the traffic jams also mean the city is not “the most livable.”

Dale Laird, Vancouver

Neighbourhoods ruined

The story, A peek into stunning local renovations, did not seek out the opinions of long-term residents of our established neighbourhood. Coquitlam’s mayor and council have created a big problem with bylaws that permit the largest structures in almost any B.C. community.

Coquitlam has become a haven for developers, who tear down very good, affordable homes and replace them with monolithic structures that impede view-scapes and privacy of adjacent properties. The builders website promotes this as “a must see transformation of a former bi-level bungalow into a soaring new re-build design”. Soaring is right.

There is a complete lack of respect for those who chose to live in established neighbourhoods with all the associated greenery and character.

I am afraid the proposed new rules allowing four-year terms for city councils, coupled with no limitations on political donations will result in even more wasteful demolitions.

Ken Holowanky, Coquitlam

Curfew by bylaw

There is rising indignation and fury by citizens with respect to public access to public land, notably sunset-tosunrise restrictions on all beaches around Vancouver and Richmond. Metro Vancouver and municipalities — junior levels of government — are, in effect, creating a curfews through bylaws.

We refuse to have our freedoms restricted insidiously by bylaws. Closing public land at any time of the night or day is imposing a curfew.

The notices recently erected along the Stanley Park seawall and in other parks are notices of curfew and should be named accordingly. Then let us publish, through Tourism B.C., to the rest of the world the present curfews in effect on this great land we advertise internationally as the “Land of the Free.”

Bill Blair, Richmond

Dignity is dying

How disgusting that a rich Asian women “reality show” is next. I increasingly mourn the loss of dignity and decency.

Not only is their plan a violation of our Charter right to freedom of speech, it is also a possible sign of a developing communist-like state. About two weeks ago, a number of Venezuelans were killed for protesting by police/military personnel.

That was a great op-ed from Grade 12 student Jacob Smith but I disagree with his view that the government could care less if teachers work or not. The government is watching out for all our tax dollars and I, for one, appreciate it.

Letter-writer Joe Schwartz, who proposes tax hikes to pay for the teachers’ demands, should ask himself where the money comes from? A pot of gold?

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the “X” in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.